Poway wrestling won't be punished

Section officials clear coach in transfer issue

An investigation into the Poway High wrestling program has cleared coach Wayne Branstetter but raised concerns over the team's “zealous boosters,” according to the California Interscholastic Federation's San Diego Section.

The section investigated after more than 15 area wrestling coaches submitted a letter questioning Poway's ability to attract high-profile transfers. The coaches said the transfers to Poway “were made specifically for athletic purposes” and claimed they violated the spirit of the rules.

The investigation found issues with the actions of boosters and volunteers who surround the program but said the issues were not serious enough to impose penalties, said Bill McLaughlin, the section's assistant commissioner. The findings suggested reining in the boosters by educating them on the rules.

“No penalties were imposed other than having training for coaches and parents as to what the proper role of a booster organization is, what the proper role of a volunteer assistant is in a program and what the boundaries are for their contacts with other kids during an offseason program,” McLaughlin said.

Branstetter previously said the coaches who brought the allegations were jealous of his success, which has included three state titles and section championships in 26 of the past 27 years. He had denied any wrongdoing and had offered to rebut every allegation.

“It has been a great lesson in life dealing with these false allegations regarding my integrity,” Branstetter said in a statement. “There was never any misconduct or rules broken on our part. I have worked extremely hard for 36 years and we have built something very special at Poway High School, and it has simply been done through good, old-fashioned 'hard work.' If that is attractive, then, so be it! Perhaps my greatest sin is that I have won too much, but I can't apologize for that.”

McLaughlin this week briefed the executive committee of the section's Board of Managers on his conclusions.

“We did not make a specific finding of wrongdoing by the head coach,” he said.

Poway “understood they had some work to do and that they have maybe been just too readily accessible for anybody and everybody who wants to become part of their program,” McLaughlin said.

The San Diego Section previously raised concerns about Poway's successful baseball program, including alleged undue influence in recruiting transfers and private lessons taught on school grounds by coaches. The school said it addressed some incidents that may have fed those perceptions. The section accepted Poway's explanation.

“We don't want transfers,” Poway Principal Scott Fisher said last year. “We'd rather people stay at their own places.”